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    Homepage » Paint Colors

    Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

    Posted: Mar 16, 2021 · Updated: Apr 7, 2022 ·This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    sw iron ore pin

    Iron Ore is a rich and indulgent dark charcoal gray worthy of a feature wall or even a kitchen cabinet. It is sure to make a statement and add a touch of elegance and sophistication to any home.

    Table of Contents show
    1 What Color is Iron Ore?
    2 What is Iron Ore's LRV?
    3 Is Iron Ore warm or cool?
    4 What are Iron Ore's undertones?
    5 How can I use Iron Ore?
    6 Iron Ore and White Paint
    7 Iron Ore vs Peppercorn
    8 The Takeaway

    What Color is Iron Ore?

    Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams is a lush dark charcoal gray paint color. It is intense, pure and very rich in color. It is one shade lighter than SW's Tricorn Black and a few shades darker than SW's Peppercorn.

    Iron Ore is the perfect choice for doors, both interior and exterior as well as exterior accents such as siding trim or shutters.

    In can certainly be used also an an island accent color, and in particularly open and well-lit homes, it makes for a striking cabinet color or accent wall.

    sherwin williams iron ore interior doors
    SW Iron Ore doors via Home Bunch

    What is Iron Ore's LRV?

    As a reminder, LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value, that is, the amount of light that is reflected back from a surface which is illuminated by a light source.

    A higher value (closer to 100) means that a color will reflect back more light, while a lower value (closer to 0) means that a color will absorb more light, or appear darker. Pure white is 100, while pure black is 0.

    Iron Ore has a LRV of 6.15 meaning while it is extremely dark it is not pure black. Nearly there, but not quite.

    white farmhouse with iron ore trim
    White farmhouse with SW Iron Ore trim via M House Development

    Is Iron Ore warm or cool?

    Iron Ore is definitely on the cooler side of life. This is not a color to warm up your home - but it is definitely a color to make a bold statement in your home.

    Paired with the right furnishings - there is no need for this color to make your room feel frosty. It looks wonderful paired with a crisp white trim and natural wood tones.

    sw iron ore painted kitchen island with pure white cabinets and gold lantern pendants

    What are Iron Ore's undertones?

    Iron Ore boasts blue and gray undertones however ever so often it will flash a tiny bit of purple. It all depends on the light, so as I always advise, get a sample and try this beauty out in the space you are thinking of using it in!

    iron ore accent wall with slate  gray headboard and leather pillow on the bed
    SW Iron Ore bedroom accent wall via Little House of Four

    How can I use Iron Ore?

    Iron Ore looks wonderful on kitchen or bathroom cabinets, as a super sophisticated accent wall or even on an exterior paint color.

    The trick is to pair with a crisp white trim to really show off that beautiful smoky charcoal gray.

    Another wonderful way of using Iron Ore is to make a feature of your fireplace and painting it this shade will bring character and drama to your space.

    Iron Ore and White Paint

    If you are thinking of using Iron Ore as a feature wall color and wondering what color to paint the rest of your room to compliment, consider using a neutral white like Sherwin Williams Pure White.

    On the exterior of your house, Iron Ore also looks beautiful paired with Alabaster by Sherwin Williams. Alabaster is a beautiful off-white with warm undertones which nicely compliment the coolness of that majestic charcoal gray.

    Iron Ore vs Peppercorn

    Iron Ore is a couple shades darker than Peppercorn whose LRV is 10.07. Peppercorn is a perfect soft charcoal black if you are wanting to go in that darker direction but are too scared to really commit.

    I've seen Peppercorn sway quite blue in certain light, so if that puts you off, stay away from it! If you're thinking of going in the direction of an almost black paint color, just bite the bullet, be brave and go for it!

    The Takeaway

    Iron Ore is a sumptuous dark (nearly black) gray. It looks its absolute best paired with crisp white trim and can make such a wonderful shade choice for a feature wall or kitchen cabinet. Just remember, a shade this dark is going to absorb a lot of light.

    Iron Ore best suited to a room that receives a lot of natural light, or at the very least, once with good artificial lighting sources.

    However, no matter what you have read or photos you have seen online, it's SO important that you always sample paint colors in your own home before committing.

    Instead of purchasing a ton of sample paint pots, my friends at Samplize have made it really easy with their amazing peel and stick paint samples.

    These samples are made with real paint, are easy to store and move around your house as you need! They are the only paint samples I buy and they ship quickly, too!

    Purchase your paint samples here.

    More Paint Colors

    • Kendall Charcoal: Paint Color Review
    • 10 Of The Best Kitchen Island Colors
    • The Best Paint Colors For Dark Rooms
    • Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

    Or see more of the best paint colors for the home


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